Well, I suppose this technically needs its own thread as it’s no longer an entry in the Alien series.

All this kind of makes me think that the Harvest script was real after all. That had a few interesting ideas in it but as has been noted by many it wasn’t really a film you could sell as an Alien film. If memory serves, there was only one actual alien in it, that died harvesting eggs at the end and there were no alien related fatalities in it at all. It had a couple of Space Jockey’s and Ash rocked up briefly at the very end but other than that it did feel like a much more original tale being forced into an alien shaped hole, if you will.

Just as I’d finally started to get quite enthusiastic about all this they’ve gone and changed it all! Oh well, think in the long run we don’t need a film explaining the origins of these creatures. Their complete mystery was a crucial attribute so leaving it intact is the right thing to do I think.

So, how we all feeling about this shift in direction then? What do we think he has in mind...

“While Alien was indeed the jumping off point for this project, out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place. The keen fan will recognize strands of Alien’s DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative. I couldn't be more pleased to have found the singular tale I'd been searching for, and finally return to this genre that's so close to my heart.”

It would seem it is an unrelated universe too, contrary to what many believe.

Thank goodness, I've been uneasy about an Alien prequel (or prequels) from the start and even Ridley Scott being attached didn't really convince me that it was a good idea.

I much prefer the idea of a new story set within a similar universe, maybe one where the familiar xenomorphs can cameo, although it does read like the film will be something entirely separate from that universe now. Still, a new Scott sci-fi film is good news so let's see where it goes.

I wonder if Fox will try the revive the prequel with a new development team and approach or leave it for a few years.

Hopefully (given some of his recent form) Scott’s return to sci fi will truly be a cause for celebration, having made such an impact on the genre. But that should also have been the case for another member of the Alien alumni recently and that wasn’t quite the life affirming experience many hoped for… so fingers crossed

And I’m sure Fox will get back around to the Alien franchise before too long. Who knows, if Logan’s Run goes OK maybe Rinsch will get a crack at it after all!

So now we have Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender cast. Keep up the good work Mr Casting Director i say!!

This is shaping up nicely indeed.

A few more potential details were uncovered too. Not sure if the Empire touched on them as I didn’t read about all this there. POTENTIAL SPOILERS.

Apparently the Prometheus element comes from an old Jon Spaihts script called Shadow 16 I believe. In which there is a teraforming ship named Prometheus. So given Scott’s interest in exploring this idea in Alien it’s easy to see how this has all got amalgamated into one project… if true that is

So now we have Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender cast. Keep up the good work Mr Casting Director i say!!

This is shaping up nicely indeed.

A few more potential details were uncovered too. Not sure if the Empire touched on them as I didn't read about all this there. POTENTIAL SPOILERS.

Apparently the Prometheus element comes from an old Jon Spaihts script called Shadow 16 I believe. In which there is a teraforming ship named Prometheus. So given Scott's interest in exploring this idea in Alien it's easy to see how this has all got amalgamated into one project… if true that is

This is a guess at the moment but I am starting to believe Prometheus is the crashed ship seen in Alien and Aliens Special edition.

There's been a lot of confusion regarding what, exactly, Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS is - and The Powers That Be don't seem terribly eager to clear the air (nor should they be, necessarily).

At first we heard it was an ALIEN prequel, then we heard that that it wasn't so much a prequel as a project that was more or less unique unto itself (details HERE), although at the time Scott indicated something to the effect of "the keen fan will recognize strands of ALIEN’s DNA, so to speak..."

Now, sources for Sky.com are revealing a few more details about the project that, if correct, make Scott's comments somewhat amusing.

SPOILERY points of interest...

"They’ve built the ‘space jockey’ cockpit at Pinewood as seen in the original Alien film..."

[EDIT]

"...familiar HR Giger-style aliens do appear. Big ones apparently."

[EDIT]

"Part of the film will be shot in Morocco. I’ve heard that some sort of archeological dig where they discover alien DNA takes place there and that DNA gives them the coordinates for an alien world."

[EDIT]

"The main spaceship in the film will be piloted by an enormous head which I assume will be CGI. Yep, sounds weird but I assume some of the technology will be sort of biomechanical."

Find more details at Sky.

An enormous head? Like, what, The Face of Boe? That part, frankly, makes me a tad suspicious of this info...but we've heard repeatedly that this is a more "out there", "harder sci-fi" endeavor than the previous films, so we'll see.

And there you have it. With so much...lack of clarity...in the air regarding this movie, I don't even know what to say or how to qualify such details.

Other than: in my mind at least, one key strength of the ALIEN-verse...as we saw in every one of the existing quadrilogy...is the concept's flexibility and its ability to be plugged into multiple tones and interpretations. Me? I'm hoping Scott does make a film that is roundly unlike the other ALIEN pictures we've seen so far, but I'm also hoping he isn't desperate to stray too far from the essence and verse that have allowed previous installments to endure over the decades. If that makes sense...I got no sleep at all last night so I may be more rambling and confused than usual at the moment.

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

It was all looking like it was linked, what with the casting of Fassbender as an android (sorry, synthetic person) and the talk of teraforming planets. It’s looking even more like it now, if any of this is true of course. Much more of this and we may as well go back to the Alien 5 thread!

Actually, when I first saw Empire Strikes Back as a little kid, maybe 3 or 4 years old, I was convinced thet the Star Destroyer was being piloted by a giant Darth Vader helmet. It was only years later that I realised it's just Vader stood at the front of the ship against the windows looking out into the blackness of space. But honestly, I thought there was a giant Vader's Helmet (great euphamism!) piloting it.

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"I've got an idea for a special infiltration technique. It involves draining a man of his blood and replacing it with Tizer."

Actually, when I first saw Empire Strikes Back as a little kid, maybe 3 or 4 years old, I was convinced thet the Star Destroyer was being piloted by a giant Darth Vader helmet. It was only years later that I realised it's just Vader stood at the front of the ship against the windows looking out into the blackness of space. But honestly, I thought there was a giant Vader's Helmet (great euphamism!) piloting it.

You should change your username to Vaders Helmet once you reach 1500 posts. It seems like a natural progression from Porn Trooper to me.......

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I feel like i'm Han Solo, your Chewie and she's Ben Kenobi - and we're in that FUCKED UP bar!!

Here is what I think - The Space Jockey will be in it, but the Alien itself will not.

In order not to make people feel disappointed that there is no Alien, Fox have decided to say this is a seperate movie that stands on its own, but has some Alien DNA within it.

Therefore it will be part of the Alien universe, but not with the Alien itself.

I think, while seemingly at odds with some of Scott’s comments, this will be on the money. I still have a feeling that the infamous Harvest script was real and elements of that script will be in Prometheus. Including the noticeable lack of Aliens... as we know them anyway.

If it's the same universe, I'm sure we'll get a glimpse of some kind of Xenomorph, but I'm all for originality!

Now, this has been on my mind for a few days. Who could do the soundtrack? I absolutely adore Jerry Goldsmiths original score (yes, even more than the 'Aliens' soundtrack!) and would really like to know who it could be... I wouldn't mind Horner returning to the... well, 'universe', as long as it isn't someone like Hans Zimmer or Clint Mansell, who is talented, no doubt, but his scores are a bit repetitive. Wild guesses: Danny Elfman & Trent Reznor.

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“The young have aspirations that never come to pass, the old have reminiscences of what never happened.”

If it's the same universe, I'm sure we'll get a glimpse of some kind of Xenomorph, but I'm all for originality!

Now, this has been on my mind for a few days. Who could do the soundtrack? I absolutely adore Jerry Goldsmiths original score (yes, even more than the 'Aliens' soundtrack!) and would really like to know who it could be... I wouldn't mind Horner returning to the... well, 'universe', as long as it isn't someone like Hans Zimmer or Clint Mansell, who is talented, no doubt, but his scores are a bit repetitive. Wild guesses: Danny Elfman & Trent Reznor.

Considering Scott tends to work with the same musicians I'd say Zimmer is definitely possible and I'd really like to see Goldsmith return. On that theme being a big Bladerunner fan it could be interesting to see him reteam with Vangelis for this film - a boy can dream

If it's the same universe, I'm sure we'll get a glimpse of some kind of Xenomorph, but I'm all for originality!

Now, this has been on my mind for a few days. Who could do the soundtrack? I absolutely adore Jerry Goldsmiths original score (yes, even more than the 'Aliens' soundtrack!) and would really like to know who it could be... I wouldn't mind Horner returning to the... well, 'universe', as long as it isn't someone like Hans Zimmer or Clint Mansell, who is talented, no doubt, but his scores are a bit repetitive. Wild guesses: Danny Elfman & Trent Reznor.

Jonny Greenwood should score Prometheus. His There Will be Blood soundtrack was extremely effective at creating a sense of unease and tension. His sonic input on this project could carve it out from the pack even more than it will be already. Horner’s work on Avatar was pretty uninspired and basically regurgitated a few Titanic motifs to boot. The Zimmer like scores, comprised of aggressive explosions of sound are becoming all too common place at the moment and I don’t want to hear that route taken here. Greenwood has the musical flavour that is required for this. It would be terrifying…